Today we welcome the exciting news that the Government has accepted the recommendations in the Call to Action report we co-produced as members of the Jo Cox Commission to tackle loneliness. The report was released in December and as a result, we now have a Minister with responsibility for loneliness, Tracey Crouch, who said:

“I am pleased that Government can build on Jo Cox’s legacy with a ministerial lead for loneliness who will work with the Commission, businesses and charities to shine a light on the issue and pull together all strands of Government to create the first ever strategy.”

In addition, the Government has committed to developing the evidence around loneliness across all ages, a key area we have been championing through our campaign.

We’re going to set up a new national Loneliness Action Group – which we’ll chair jointly with the British Red Cross. The group, meeting quarterly through 2018, will bring together national organisations tackling loneliness to share information and work to realise the announcements made today by Government.

With the money our members and colleagues raised for our campaign to tackleloneliness, we are supporting thousands of people across the UK who are experiencing loneliness through our new British Red Cross Community Connector services. However we are delighted that today’s announcement means millions more will be helped.

Two of our colleagues are today attending a reception at Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister to celebrate the news of this announcement and the work of the late Jo Cox who kick-started this work.